the sun-scorched border of the Karyan Desert, the sand was everywhere. It was in the water, i

sk down. He took a deep, ragged breath, but the air at the Forward O

k, had a faint tremor. Twelve hours. He had been sti

ion, his boots crunching on the

ogen St

l, wearing silk and drinking tea. Instead, she was kneeling in the

all frame. Her blonde hair was pulled back in a messy

sn't the fatigue. It was love. A terrifying, ov

tly took the gauze fro

e red-rimmed, but clear. "I ha

the wrap with efficient, practiced m

otions she used to use were a distant memory. Her fin

rrible," he

countered, but she did

n's dusty jeep. The sun was setting, painting the desert in vio

eek," Julian said. He unscrewed a water bottle

don't know if I rememb

e hit him hard. He didn't have a ring. He didn't have a speech. But he n

bottle paused halfway

done pretending that we're just 'childhood

led with tears. She opened her mouth to

um

stant. Like a heavy bo

siren s

r, a high-pitched wai

!" someon

ards away. The ground heaved. The shockwave hit Juli

behind the jeep. Debris rained down on the metal h

n yelled over the

ogen screamed, try

ned her down. "W

rimeter. It wasn't just s

dearm drawn. He was shouting orders, his voice booming ove

f a local villager, but he moved with the precision of a trained killer. He held

traight for Ston

ring at a target near th

He didn't calculate t

round, sprinting ac

" Julian

but it was too

the General. He felt the impact before the pai

nto his side, ju

snarled, twis

he assassin's head snapp

ked down. The handle of the knif

athe, but his l

is name. It sounded li

as a mistake. Blood gushed out, s

od wasn

hands. The blood was dark. Almost black. And it carrie

is

rt sky spun above him, turning